More Changes Ahead for Meaningful Use Attestation

On the heels of the ICD-10 delay, CMS made another big announcement this week: hospitals and eligible professionals (EPs) attesting to Meaningful Use in 2014 will be allowed to use 2011 certified electronic health record (EHR) technology and use 2013 objectives and measures, according to a new proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The final rule is scheduled to be published May 23 in the Federal Register.This rule will change attestation requirements for eligible providers as follows:

EPs scheduled to demonstrate Meaningful Use Stage 1 in 2014 will have the option to attest to the 2013 Stage 1 core and menu items, and use the 2013 definition of clinical quality.

EPs ready to demonstrate Meaningful Use Stage 2 in 2014 will have the option to attest to the 2013 Stage 1 core and menu items, as well as the 2013 definition of clinical quality.

EPs attesting to Meaningful Use for the first time in 2014 may use any continuous 90-day EHR reporting period for attestation. EPs who have attested in previous years must attest for a three-month calendar quarter.

An additional important change: the proposed rule formalizes CMS and ONC’s previously stated intention to extend Stage 2 through 2016 and begin Stage 3 in 2017. The deadlines are being changed in response to industry groups and vendors comments. Practice Velocity customers can use the current version of VelociDoc to meet 2013 Stage 1 core, menu and clinical quality measures, and to attest for Meaningful Use for 2014.